_Spragge's Canyon_ (SMITH, ELDER), takes its title, as you might guess, from the canyon where the _Spragges_ lived. It was a delightful spot, a kind of earthly paradise (snakes included), and the _Spragge_ family had made it all themselves out of unclaimed land on the Californian coast. Wherefore the _Spragges_ loved it with a love only equalled perhaps by the same emotion in the breast of Mr. H. A. VACHELL, who has written a book about it. The _Spragges_ of the tale are _Mrs. Spragge_, widow of the pioneer, and her son _George_. With them on the ranch lived also a cousin, _Samantha_, a big-built capable young woman, destined by Providence and _Mrs. Spragge_ to be the helpmate of _George_. But _George_, though he was strong and handsome and a perfect marvel with rattlesnakes (which he collected as a subsidiary source of income), was also a bit of a fool; and when, on one of his rare townward excursions, he got talking to _Hazel Goodrich_ in a street car, her pale attractiveness and general lure proved too much for him. Accordingly _Hazel_ was asked down to the ranch on a visit (I am taking it on trust that Mr. VACHELL knows the Californian etiquette in these matters) and has the time of her life, flirting with the love-lorn _George_, impressing his mother, and generally scoring off poor _Samantha_. At least so she thought. Really, however, _Mrs. Spragge_ had taken _Hazel's_ measure in one, and was all the time quietly fighting her visitor for her son's future. This fight, and the character of the mother who makes it, are the best things in the book. I shall not tell you who wins. Personally I had expected a comedy climax, and was unprepared for creeps. But _George_, I may remind you, collected snakes. A good and virile tale. * * *